The Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, has told investors involved with heavy black sand mining otherwise known as ‘Zircon’, that the Government of Liberia is not against their investment interest in the country by placing a ban on that aspect of mining the Liberia’s abundant mineral resources.
Speaking Friday when he met in audience with some investors mining heavy black sand in the country, Minister Paye said, the moratorium was placed on continuous mining of the sand mineral in an uncoordinated manner.
He told the investors that the Ministry of Mines and Energy under his watch does not have any clear information about licenses in the Heavy black sand mining sector, so, it was imprudent to allow the operations to continue.
The Mines and Energy Minister further emphasized that the Liberian government welcomes investments of all kinds, not only in mining, for the betterment of its citizens’ living conditions as well as the Investors’, but pointed out that what will not be tolerated are harmful practices that have dangerous propensities.
One of Minister Paye’s technical deputies, William Hines, frowned at what he called the “bad” mining practices that the heavy black sand mining companies were carrying out across the country with the situation in Marshall, Margibi, being the most attention grabbing that went viral on social media.
The Deputy Minister for Operations at the Ministry of Mines and Energy explained further that the Wilmot Paye administration assumes responsibility of this problem because the government is continuity and assured that measures required to fix it will be put in place.
Responding, the heavy black sand mineral investors gave their full cooperation in collaborating with the Ministry of Mines and Energy to identify mitigating factors that affect positive change regarding heavy black sand mining in Liberia.
According to a cross section of them, mostly foreigners, they have licenses ranging from exploration, prospecting and mining, which gave them ‘mineral’ right, but fell short of giving details of their acquisition of those Licenses.
The investors then pleaded with Minister Paye and his team that the ban placed on their operations is causing them serious discomfort.
According to some of them, they have shipment schedules they have missed out on, on many occasions, and that due to the ban, their consignments are stock-piled at the Freeport of Monrovia incurring storage penalties.
They requested that the Ministry allows their shipments go through whilst solutions are being sought out to mine heavy black sand in a proper manner that considers environmental social safeguard, benefit to affected communities, among others.
In another development, Minister Paye has concluded acquaintances and refresher trainings for his Mineral Inspectors, and Mining Agents.
They are in Monrovia from the 70 mining districts (6 mining regions) for assessment appraisals. This process usually follows re-assignments.
In other news, Minister Paye was on Friday, April 19, 2024, honored and gowned by the Citizens Action Committee (CAC), a group comprised of several civil society organizations.
Their head, Testimony Barclay, said over the years, they have kept Minister Paye under close observation and have discovered that he is diligent and hard-working.
Barclay urged Minister Paye to continue making such meaningful impacts on society.
